The Illustrated Poems of John Betjeman. [WITH] Autograph Letter Signed by David Gentleman.

BETJEMAN, John; David Gentleman.

$350.00

Item Number: 147100

London: John Murray, 1995.

First edition of this humorous collection of intimate poems, illustrated with charming watercolors by one of England’s most familiar artists. Medium octavo, original boards, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the artist, “For Gill Sandilands with all good wishes from David Gentleman.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Accompanied by an autograph letter signed by Gentleman to Miss Sandilands, offering her this book. One page on his Gloucester Crescent stationary, the letter reads in full, “22 March 1995, Dear Gill, I am really ashamed of having neglected your kind messages and invitation last year, and of being to inconsiderate. It was kind of you to offer me the chance to look out onto Cadogan Square, with Betjeman’s poem in mind. In the end I was frantic with the different tasks of doing in Betjeman while the book on India was going to press; and I did the poem, ‘In Westminster Abbey,’ in a different way. I’m enclosing the book, not yet out for another month, as a sort of apology for my rudeness, and hoping that you will enjoy another chance to read the poems. ‘In Westminster Abbey’ seems to me one of the funniest and most touching. I hope things are well with you. We have just had a lovely weekend at Culham, finding felicity well, and catching two sunny days, ahead of today’s better weather. I’ve embarked on a book of drawings of Italy, and am going there again in a week’s time. With good wishes – David.”

Recognized for his platform-length murals for London's Charing Cross Underground Station and his British commemorative postage stamps, David Gentleman's work is easily part of everyday life in England. Having studied art and painting at the Royal College of Art under Edward Bawden and John Nash, Gentleman learned to produce art pieces in watercolor, lithography, and wood engraving, which have appeared for the first time in books, coins, posters, and screen-prints and which been reproduced on textiles, wallpapers, and fine Wedgwood plates.